Create social media presence to catch Asean e-commerce opportunities

EXPORTERS looking to expand and diversify their Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) destinations should ensure they are active in e-commerce and social media, as online shopping is expected to post double-digit growth this year, says a trade executive.

Jeremiah Reyes, commercial attaché at the Philippine Trade and Investment Center office in Jakarta, Indonesia, said the pandemic is providing a compelling reason for exporters to embrace e-commerce, as more and more consumers are prompted to go online for their shopping needs.

In an online presentation, Reyes stressed that the time has passed for exporters to question whether they should join social media and e-commerce or not. There is no doubt they need to make their move now, he said.

E-commerce is expected to be the fastest growing sector in the Asean’s Internet economy, with research showing that 83 percent of the population in the Asean-6 still intends to increase online spending post-pandemic.

He added that “digital ubiquity” will become the new normal as the pandemic accelerates the arrival of the digital future, and many consumers are venturing into their first digital purchases and spending an increasing amount of time online.

The trade expert said that on average, Asean consumers are currently spending around four hours on social media every day, much higher than the global average.

In Indonesia, for instance, social media is the top channel whereby brands interact with their customers, noted Reyes.

Another good reason to tap the Asean e-commerce market is the positive outlook for the region. Many economies in the region are forecast to rebound this year as they make early progress with their recovery and vaccine rollouts.

Asean is poised to provide a major opportunity to exporters because of its favorable demographics, rising income levels, geopolitical shifts and digital tailwinds, emphasized Reyes in an e-forum on Asean market trends and opportunities organized by the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc.

He said consumer spending in Asean is expected to surge, driven by the Asean middle class.